#and it's worse in the context of callum being able to gain and use sky magic since he wasn't born with that either

[viravosmonarchy]

You know what? It's so weird that Dark Magic in TDP is basically biomass energy conversion (a type of renewable energy that requires living or once-living matter such as plants or animals), when most 'dark magic' in fiction is typically something more realistically dangerous. Normally, dark magic in fiction includes things that are practically or socially harmful, such as necromancy, ounieromancy, possession, suppression of will, mind control, ect. Dark magic in TDP is capable of these things, sure, but these things are still not a core tenant of dark magic in TDP.

Dark magic in TDP can be used for healing, defense, transformation, tracking, ect. All the 'typical' types of dark magic are considered normal in most magical settings. Because it makes sense that if you want an action, you must provide energy for that action.

When you think about it, TDP's dark magic is really no different from its elemental magic in its potential for harm — after all, the weapon Viren used to harm Rayla's parents was none other than sky magic! No, the difference between the forbidden and the permitted arcane power in The Dragon Prince is not potential for harm. The difference is who wields the power.

current messages of TDP:

“If you’re afraid of the people who drove your ancestors out of their homes, you’re a bigot”

“gaining power you weren’t born with is wrong”

“curiosity makes you easy to control”

Wow these sure are interesting messages for a supposedly progressive show to give to impressionable young children